第 6 章
The Mighty Microbiome: Your Internal Hormone Factory
While everything about eating, fasting, and hormones applies to human cells, these make up only about 50% of who you are-the rest being bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. These microbes, collectively called the microbiome, perform miraculous functions when properly nourished. They produce serotonin for happiness, GABA for calming the brain, regulate immune function, control blood sugar, boost metabolism, and help remove harmful estrogens. Despite their benefits, our antibacterial-obsessed world has taught us only to kill bacteria, not nurture them.
Our antibiotic-rich world kills both harmful and beneficial bacteria. Daily antibacterial exposure comes from soaps, toothpastes, mouthwashes, antibiotic-treated meats, and prescribed antibiotics-just one round of which can eliminate up to 90% of good bacteria. This bacterial devastation contributes to depression, anxiety, insomnia, and autoimmune conditions. The first step to resetting your microbiome is stopping this antibiotic influx.
After stopping the destruction of good bacteria, focus on feeding them with three food categories: polyphenols (cloves, olives, dark chocolate, berries, raw nuts, red wine), prebiotics (chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds), and probiotics (sauerkraut, kimchi, probiotic-rich yogurts, kombucha, kefir). While specific daily quantities aren't established by research, diversity is key-Dr. Terry Wahls, who reversed her multiple sclerosis symptoms through diet, recommends consuming over 200 different plants yearly.
The estrobolome-a group of over 60 bacteria-specifically helps menopausal women by breaking down toxic estrogens and activating beneficial estrogen. These bacteria produce beta-glucuronidase, a crucial enzyme that ensures the limited estrogen produced during menopause gets activated in cells rather than excreted. When gut microbes are imbalanced, beta-glucuronidase activity becomes altered, potentially causing excess estrogen that leads to various health issues.
Signs of estrobolome imbalance include digestive problems, acne, low libido, irregular periods, breast tenderness, headaches, weight gain, hot flashes, mood swings, PCOS, and increased cancer risk. Testing your estrobolome with an at-home stool test like Gut Zoomer can identify pathogens and bacterial imbalances affecting hormones, weight, pain, and mood.
The liver works with the gut to break down estrogen, so even with a healthy microbiome, liver stress can cause hormonal imbalances. For optimal liver function: minimize stressors like alcohol, medications, fried foods, and sugary desserts; increase cruciferous vegetables; use castor oil packs three times weekly; try weekly coffee enemas; and supplement with nutrients that support struggling livers.
Beyond lacking good bacteria, your gut may harbor pathogens-the bullies that hijack your microbiome and make it difficult for beneficial bacteria to thrive. These pathogens control cravings and create unpleasant symptoms. Candida albicans particularly disrupts hormonal balance by triggering sugar cravings, causing brain fog, weight retention, and vaginal infections.
